Indoctrination in communism.

We have been taught that communism is a system that does not take the society anywhere and that is bad for a country progress. Personally, I have always wonder what did they taught the children in the time when Russia was a communist society? When I first began searching for this information, I read that the communism said that the capitalisms system was bad and selfish. That capitalism and the religion harmed the idea of a collective development of the country because it concentrates in individual progress. The communism was think for the common good and these are just other ways of saying that the indoctrination of the communist’s ideal are: life and collective development and not only the individual development. This was a very radical idea, but it was just a reaction of what was happening in that times when people were starving, they need help urgently and they don’t get it. When the communism was established as the new system the education was one of the most important priorities of Russia to create a new society in which everyone can have an opportunity they live the life they deserve that they couldn’t get through the imperial system in the first years of the XX century.

Soviet Youth indoctrination begins in Kindergarten with stories of “Grandfather Lenin” that make him out to be a sort of Santa Claus figure to children throughout the world. In first grade children join the Little Octoberists, their first official Communist group. The good of the group is emphasized over that of the individual. They learn about their duty and social obligations to the Motherland. Loyalty to the state is emphasized over loyalty to family or oneself. This was the ideas that people taught their children so they continue the same system.

In the case of the education it was equal for everybody. No private schools just one educative project for all with the goal to stand out in every field of knowledge like: art, math, physics, science, music, etc. All this was paid by the state so the parents don’t have to spend money in education and, at the same time, promoted the development of the skills of each student to maximize their potential. In this way the future generation of Russia not only has the idea of continue a communist society but also they were very good prepared having the best people in every area.

With all this communism, that start at the beginning of the XX century and over the years, get to made Russia a world power but that would come to an end near the 80’s because, although the first generation had the idea of communism, little by little emerged people who wanted to have an individual progress.

Like I have already said communism was just a reaction to the Russian aristocracy of that time, that were totally indifferent and inoperable, concentrating first in foreign wars and not paying attention to the problems of its country. We can finally say that communism was almost necessary to take the country forward when they most needed.

Written by:  Maria Claudia Villar